Rear mount adjustable rifle carrier assembly

ABSTRACT

A rifle carrier assembly mountable to the back of a user permits the rifle to be carried without encumbering the arms and hands of the wearer. The carrier secures a rifle to the back of the user in a manner which enables a degree of adjustment of the case relative to the spine angle of the wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a rifle carrier adapted toadjustably secure a carrier case for a rifle to the back of the user. Asused herein, the term “rifle” is intended to encompass a shotgun or anassault weapon.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Conventional rifle carriers are comprised of an elongate sleeveconfigured to encompass the rifle and ancillary equipment such as ascope. The sleeve includes zippers or like fastening devices enablingthe rifle case selectively to be closed for transport or storage oropened to permit extraction of the rifle.

[0003] The typical rifle carrier includes a handle located generallymedially of the sleeve to enable the user to carry the case in a more orless balanced condition. Additionally, the conventional case is providedwith a sling; i.e., a lengthwise adjustable strap, enabling the rifle tobe carried on a shoulder of a user. A drawback of the shoulder slingtype rifle carrier resides in the tendency of the case to slip from theshoulder if the sling is carried over one shoulder only, or to impedethe freedom of motion of the user if the sling is of the type whichencompasses the body of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an adjustable rifle carrierassembly which comprises an elongate sleeve configured to encompass arifle. The carrier includes a harness adapted to maintain the rifle casealong the back of the wearer whereby the wearer's hands are free ofencumbrances. A characterizing feature of the invention resides in theability of the user to adjust the angular position of the back mountedcase relative to the spine of the user.

[0005] Briefly, the harness includes a U-shaped yoke adapted to lieagainst the back of the neck of the user, the yoke including a spacedpair of depending legs extending from the ends of the yoke over thefront of the user. The terminal free ends of the legs have affixedthereto a pair of straps directed downwardly the terminal edges of thestraps being secured to the surface of the harness behind the user. Thestraps are provided with adjustment means for shortening or lengtheningthe strap. A transverse or lateral strap member extends between thesupport straps at the front of the wearer. The lateral strap isadjustable lengthwise and includes a central clamp assembly enabling thelateral strap to be opened to enable donning of the carrier. Byshortening and/or lengthening the various straps, the carrier isconnected to the body of the wearer in a manner which enables theangular relation of the case relative to the user to be varied within arange as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a partial frontal view of an individual wearing therifle case.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rear surface of the case; i.e., thesurface which would be exposed when the case is mounted on a user.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear surface of the case; i.e., thesurface which will lie against the back of the user.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the assembly viewed in thedirection of the back of the user, the outline of the rifle encasingsleeve being depicted in dot and dashed lines, enabling visible accessto the rear of the user.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rear surface of the case with theupper portions folded rearwardly, facilitating carrying of the case whenthe rifle is removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In FIG. 1 there is disclosed schematically a frontal view of anindividual wearing the gun case. The case includes a carrier sleeve 10configured to accommodate a weapon, illustratively, a rifle.Illustratively, but without limitation, a typical case would be of alength at least about 53.5 inches.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, attached to the case (10) is a harnessassembly (11). The harness assembly includes a yoke member (12) affixedat (13) to the interior surface; i.e., to the surface which will bedisposed against the back of the wearer. The yoke (12) includes adepending pair of legs (14) adapted to surround the rear of the neck ofthe user. Extending from the distal ends 15 of the yoke, are a pair ofretaining straps (16), (16), the straps including lengthwise adjustableshortening members (17). The ends (18) of straps (16) are secured to theinner face of the sleeve (10).

[0013] A lateral strap (19) extends between the vertical straps (16),the strap (19) being formed of two components 19 a, 19 b, the componentsbeing connectable by a snap fastener which also includes lengthwiseadjustment means.

[0014] As disclosed in FIG. 1, the angle of the case (10) relative tothe wearer may be adjusted in the direction of the arrows (2-2) enablingthe user to hold the case at a position most comforting to theindividual. By adjusting the effective length of the straps (16),utilizing the shortening components (17) which preferably functionutilizing a well-known clamp mechanism which incorporates single anddouble layer components, adjustment may be effected by varying thelength of the single and double layer components. Adjustment may also beobtained by overlapping increments of Velcro®.

[0015] Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the surface of the casewhich will be exposed when mounted on the user is provided with acamouflage pattern (C).

[0016] As shown in FIG. 5, a flap 25 may be folded backward when therifle is removed from the case, i.e. for use.

[0017] Access to the interior for insertion and removal of the rifle isprovided by a U-shaped zipper component (27) which, in the opencondition illustrated in FIG. 3, enables the flap (29) to be foldedoutwardly about fold line (30).

[0018] From the foregoing, it will be perceived that there is providedin accordance with the present invention a rifle case mountable to theback of the user, thereby leaving the arms and hands of the user free.The device provides a degree of angular adjustment relative to the spineangle of the user, thus enabling the user to adjust the carrier to acondition of greatest comfort.

[0019] As will be apparent to people skilled in the art and familiarizedwith the instant disclosure, numerous variations in details of structuremay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed within the scopeof the appended claims.

1. An adjustable rifle carrier assembly comprises an elongate sleeve configured to encompass a rifle, said sleeve having a front and a rear surface, harness means for securing said sleeve to the back of a user for adjustment in a plane parallel to the spine of the user, said harness means comprising a generally U-shaped yoke adapted to encompass the neck of the user, said yoke having a central portion connected to said rear surface at a medially located position there along, said yoke including spaced depending legs adapted to extend from said rear surface forwardly over the shoulder of the user, first and second connector straps each having an upper end connected to a respective said leg and a lower end connected to said rear surface at a position longitudinally displaced from said lower end, the combination including longitudinal adjustment means interposed between said upper and lower ends of at least one of said straps, whereby the angular position of carrier relative to said user is a function of the adjusted position of said at least one strap.
 2. A carrier in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said connection strap includes a said adjustment means.
 3. A carrier in accordance with claim 2 including a lateral strap member extending between said connector straps, said lateral strap member including lengthwise adjustment means.
 4. A carrier in accordance with claim 3 wherein said lateral strap member comprises two separable components and clamp means on said components for selectively connecting or separating said components. 